In total 255,922 apps were launched last year in the British version of Apple’s incredibly popular App Store and on average 21,326 apps were launched per month, says a breakdown of the digital store’s figures.

According to a new report jointly-authored by AppZapp, an app bargain-guide and madvertise, a European mobile advertising network, the most apps were launched last December – in the run-up to Christmas. A total of 28,992 went live in the App Store in the final four weeks of last year - the most for any month during the whole of 2011.

Out of the total number of apps launched, 67 per cent were created for the iPhone, while 33 per cent were designed specifically for the iPad.

The report included apps which launched around the world, not just UK-specific launches.

The analysis also found that the highest growing app category on the iPhone was lifestyle, while education-based apps topped the iPad list. The number of education apps had grown by 205 per cent on the year